Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-05
FISHING FOR PEARLS.
Natures Jewel Baskets Brought Up
from the CavernS 81 the Sea-
HOW rHR PBARIS ARE FoRNED-sICK OYSTERS PRo-
DuCE THE BEST FRARIs-wHKRR THE FISHERIES


DucE THE BEST PRARIs-wHKRR THE FISHERIES
ARE LOCATED AND HOW THEY ARE OPERATED.
A recently issued bulletin Of the United states
fish commission contains translation OF an inter-
esting report by Engineer n. Weber OF Norway, on
report, scover the inside OF their shell with
layer consisting OF animal membranes and carbo-
mated lime. Thereby peculiar luster Is produced
on the inside Of the shell, which is called mother
of-peari smaller portion OF this secretion often
forms excresences shaped like drops or kidneys
which either are imbedded more or less firmly In
the inside OF the SHELL or lie loose In the soft parts
Of the animal especially in its 50 called beard.
These are what are generally known as pearls
The formation OF mother-of pearl Is doubtless
natural process taking place in certain muSselA
THE FORMATION OF PKARLa
on the other hand, is ascrfbed to accidents, and
probably Is caused by q sickness Of the mussel or
by some wound inflicted on 1t. This view has been
reached by noticing the circumstance that, when
the shells are large and the inside smooth, clean
and without any holes 50 that the mollusks can
fully develop, pearls are but rarely found; while
the formation OF pearls is very frequent when the
shells irregular. Sometimes hundreds OF pearls
are found In the aforementioned shells; but fire.
quently scarcely one OF them possesses any com
valves; but useful product is found in some uni
valves" Fourteen varieties are enumerated, the
these are the avicala margarityera, which pro-
duceS the most valuable pearls the pima sQstd-
nsosa with black and red pearls and the chank
shell, with pale red pearls
THE SEA PEARL FISHERIES
are principally confined to the Persian gulf coasts
OF Ceylon, the eastern archipelago, Australia, the
lagoons OF many islands in the Pacific ami to Gen.
trail America. Fresh water pearls have, as q rule
but little luster, and are consequently of no great
value For a while the ScOth pearls enjoyed
ffpg
Arabs carry ON sort OF pearl fishery on the coast
OF the Red Sea. They catch the molluSkS and lay
them in the sun so that they may open quickly
The pearl fisheries in the Persian gulf, especially
on the coasts OF the island OF Bahrein, also in
the hands OF the Arabs The Ceylon pearl flsh-
n se
same name and also on the west coast of india
near Tuticorin Experience s has shSM how
value, come from m1ssels which are not older than
five years. During the NTH and sixth year the
value doubles and In the seventh year 1t becomes
f0urfOld The pearls are not fully matured II they
are taken out too soon; and, on the other hand,
the animal dies II the pearls remain too long In
sns s
In sorting the pearls they are first passed through
ROW OF BASKETS
ten or twelve in number. The eighth basket In
the row has twenty holes, and the pearls which do
not pass through these are said to have the
"twentieth measure" The other baskets in order
and each basket has its special name. After the
pearls have been sorted in this measure they are
weighed, and their value Is noted China has pearl
produce large quantities OF mOther-Of-pearL The
enClre region from the island OF Tawi-Tawi and
oysters. Here the Malays and chinese fsh in
common. The Lulu fisheries, near Tawi-Taw1, are,
according to the statement Of an Engishman, Mr..
Moore, the largest and most productive OF all the
pearl fisheries In the East As1atic seas. The pearls
which are caught here have always been famous.
and the mother-of- pearl is distinguished by Its
yellow luSter, which makes 1t suitable 1or many
purposes. The most important pearl fisheries In
Queensland are in the hands or Sydney capitalists
The fisheries are carried on by MalayS who dive
the northwest coast OF Australia employ large
number OF Malays and natives as divers Recently
the English papers have reported the discovery OF
pearls and mOther-of-pearl near NOW zealand.
DIVING FOR PEARLS
is one of the principal for the natives
of the Pacific ocean. = Here, likewise, mother-of
pearl is the principal object OF the fisheries The
oysters live in large colonies close together, and
are firmly attached to each other; they are at
ing from their body and running through the
shell. In the live animal this band is OF a dark
green. and sometimes gOld-bronze color, and the
contain pearls or not The shells reach their full
size when they are seven years old. When the
animal has reached maturity, 1t tears itself loose
shells are then covered with corals and parasites
They become worthless and the pearls are lost.
Occasionally pearls are found loose In the shells.
Theseare always Of a very fine quality, perfectly
round and often very large. But there is hardly
one in a thousand oysters which contains such
careless way in which they open the shells Fine
and calm weather Is most favorable for pearl fish,
ing. The divers wear no special suit, but simply
rub their body with OIL so the sun may not blister
their skin. They remain under the water one to
two minutes, and bring up oysters from depth Of
20 fathoms. They rarely 60 to such depth, but
Av.n, md I'm
fishing grounds, which were supposed to be eX.
hausted, a great many pearl-oysters are found In
Besides the pearl oyster, there is often found In
the lagoOns Of the Pacific ocean kind OF Venm,
shell, which often contains pearls OF great value
The fishermen do not look for these pearls at all
but 1t is presumed that it would pay to examine
these shells more systematically. In the Pacific
there is found another pearl producing mOllusk
whose shells greatly resemble those OF the com
rocks invariably one by itself; and they are quite
rare. Their pearls are always perfectly round
with a fine luster and gold color, OF about the
size Of pea
AMERICAN PEARL FISHERIES.
The Central American pearl fisheries are carried
on on both sides OF the Isthmus OF Panama. In
the lower part OF the Bay OF Mulege, in the Gull
OF California, and near Los Coyntes pearls Of
great have aw m
Gulf of Darien to California The fisheries are car
RED on from July till october; during the rest Of
the year SUOEIuS COlQ WcdtllcT pIcScut uSuluS
Diving suits are generally used. The mother-Of
pearl from the Gulf OF California Is white, witt
blush black or yellow bands. The fisheries wert
carried on to such an excess that the size OF The
shells decreased from year tOyear; fishing is there
fore now permitted only every fourth year. Thu
California shells are sent almost exclusively u
Hamburg, whence they go to England, Austria and
France. The largest quantity goes to Paris, but
great deal also to Frankfort on The Main. The en-
tire California fisheries are said to produce from
600 600 to 700, 600 pounds OF mOther-Of-peaH pei
annum. In the Bahamas the snail fisheries form
an important industry. The pearls found In then
are e-colored, yellow or black; the first men
toned alone possess any value.
In the state OF Ohio pearl fisheries are carried
in Little Miami river. The season lasts from JUNE
till october. Men and boys wade In the river AMI
bring up the pearl oysters with their feet. TIT
shells are opened with knife, and seldom an
more than two pearls found In 800 oysters. Pear
fisheries are also carried on In the rivers OF Nor
way, Bavaria and Bohemia.
Woman
From heaven to earth star descended
(By guides celestial attended,,
Predestined to q sembance human.
Still half divine, it changed to woman;
1t still retained within its face